Karasuyama Line
# Karasuyama Line

The Karasuyama Line (烏山線, Karasuyama-sen) is a railway line in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan, owned and operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It connects Hōshakuji in the town of Takanezawa with Karasuyama in Nasukarasuyama.

## Services

Trains run approximately once every hour, traveling the entire length of the line. Some trains travel through onto the Utsunomiya Line (Tohoku Main Line) to Utsunomiya Station.

## Stations

| Station | Japanese | Distance (km) | Distance (km) | Transfers | Location |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Station | Japanese | Between stations | Total | Transfers | Location |
| Hōshakuji | 宝積寺 | - | 0.0 | JU Utsunomiya Line (Some through trains to Utsunomiya) | Takanezawa, Shioya District |
| Shimotsuke-Hanaoka | 下野花岡 | 3.9 | 3.9 | | Takanezawa, Shioya District |
| Niita | 仁井田 | 2.0 | 5.9 | | Takanezawa, Shioya District |
| Kōnoyama | 鴻野山 | 2.4 | 8.3 | | Nasukarasuyama |
| Ōgane | 大金 | 4.4 | 12.7 | | Nasukarasuyama |
| Kobana | 小塙 | 2.6 | 15.3 | | Nasukarasuyama |
| Taki | 滝 | 2.2 | 17.5 | | Nasukarasuyama |
| Karasuyama | 烏山 | 2.9 | 20.4 | | Nasukarasuyama |

## Rolling stock

* EV-E301 series BEMU (since 15 March 2014)

From the start of the revised timetable on 15 March 2014, a new EV-E301 series two-car battery electric multiple unit (BEMU) was introduced on the Karasuyama Line and Tohoku Main Line between Utsunomiya and Karasuyama. Developed from the experimental "Smart Denchi-kun" battery electric railcar also tested on this line since 2012, the EV-E301 series train is recharged at a special recharging facility built at Karasuyama Station, and operates on battery power over the non-electrified Karasuyama Line tracks.

All of the remaining KiHa 40 series diesel trains used on the line were withdrawn on 3 March 2017, and replaced with EV-E301 series battery electric units from the start of the revised timetable on 4 March 2017.

* EV-E301 series BEMU set

### Former rolling stock

* KiHa 40 series DMUs (until 3 March 2017)
* A KiHa 40-1000 series DMU in January 2011

## History

The line opened on 15 April 1923. With the privatization of Japanese National Railways (JNR) on 1 April 1987, the line came under the control of JR East.

Wanman driver only operation commenced on the line on 10 March 1990, using KiHa 40 series DMUs.

